COURTHOUSE — A state legislator representing parts of Montgomery County who is accused of using her taxpayer-paid staff to organize an annual campaign fundraiser wants her upcoming trial transferred to Philadelphia County.

“The vast majority of witnesses in this matter are located in Philadelphia County. The resulting evidence is also located in Philadelphia County,” defense lawyers Henry E. Hockeimer Jr. and Tejal K. Mehta wrote in court papers seeking the change of venue. “In view of the fact that practically none of the prospective trial witnesses reside within this judicial district, the event at issue herein occurred within Philadelphia County and Senator Washington herself resides in Philadelphia County, fairness and (state law) requires that this case be transferred to Philadelphia County.”

A judge has not yet scheduled a hearing on the request.

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With the charges, state prosecutors alleged Washington, elected to the Senate during a special election in 2005, used her legislative staff and resources for eight years to assist in organizing and planning an annual “birthday party” political fundraiser. A statewide investigating grand jury found Washington allegedly used intimidation and verbal abuse, directed at Senate staff, to perform campaign work, according to a statement released by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General at the time of Washington’s arrest.

Authorities alleged Washington pressured her staff to devote numerous hours to organize the event, including creating invitations, maintaining databases for invitations, as well as printing thousands of campaign invitations and stuffing and stamping envelopes for the campaign. The attorney general’s office alleged a former staff member of the senator described the event, which was held in July to coincide with the senator’s birthday, as a “grand, gala event.”

State authorities previously alleged the monetary loss to the commonwealth was between $30,000 and $100,000.

Last October, state agents obtained warrants to confiscate documents, as well as computer equipment, calendars and paper fliers linked to fundraising or campaigning from Washington’s district offices on Easton Road in the Roslyn section of Abington Township and Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia.

Washington’s 4th district includes Abington and Cheltenham townships and Jenkintown and Rockledge boroughs in Montgomery County and sections of Philadelphia.

Hockeimer and Mehta argued the event at the center of the allegations was held annually at the historic Belmont Mansion in Philadelphia. Hockeimer maintained in court papers that the event has always been hosted by Washington’s campaign committee whose address and whose bank account are located in Philadelphia County.

“The vast majority of contributions to this event came from individuals located in Philadelphia County,” Hockeimer and Mehta wrote in court papers, arguing the trial venue “should begin and end in the court with a geographic connection to the birthday party/fundraiser, the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County.”

The majority of the prosecution’s witnesses are also located in Philadelphia, Hockeimer claimed.

“No witnesses appear to have a connection to Montgomery County except for the commonwealth agents who investigated this case,” Hockeimer and Mehta wrote.

Washington, who has vowed to fight the charges, remains free pending trial.

If convicted of the charges, Washington faces a possible maximum sentence of six to 12 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.

Washington had been seeking election to a third-term but voters rejected her bid for re-election during May’s primary election. Washington was defeated by Cheltenham lawyer Art Haywood.